Halloween Happenings

Halloween may be rooted in the scary, but these days, it offers something for everyone. Read our picks for the best Halloween events happening in and around the Chicago suburbs.

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• 13th Floor Haunted House – 9/10-11/13. Select dates. One of the largest haunted house brands. Special features with Fright Club app. Melrose Park. 13thfloorchicago.com
• Teenie Weenie Pumpkins & Munchkins – 9/17. Celebrate the colorful time of year with treats, games, crafts and a hayride. 10AM-Noon. Carol Stream. csparks.org
• Hayride of Horror and the Curse of the Bayou – Open every Fri. and Sat. starting Sept. 30 until Oct. 29 from 7pm-10pm at Dellwood Park, Lockport. lockportpark.org
• Ghoulish Golf – 9/30-10/1. 4-9PM. Spooky surprises await after a game of crazy golf. Family-friendly light scares possible. St. Charles. Stparks.org
• Itasca Halloween Celebration – 10/1. 1-3PM. Pony rides, bounce house, games, pumpkin decorating and more! Itascaparkdistrict.com
• Halloween Hayride – 10/2. 5-6:30PM. Hayride around Lake Gregory followed by activities and S’mores. Costume contest. Register. Blackberry Farm. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
• Howl-O-Ween – 10/5. 5-7PM. Bring your favorite dog for a spooky egg hunt, raffle, photos, and a goody bag for your dog. Fred. P. Hall Amphitheater. Palatine. Palatineparks.org
• Halloween Hollow – 10/7-9. Yunker Park. Kids’ games, mummy wrap, pumpkin decorating, food concessions and beer. 12-5PM. Mokena. Mokenapark.com
• Specters & Spirits – 10/7. Exploration of the haunted Downers Grove Museum for adults. Drinks around a bonfire before searching for signs of spirits with paranormal experts. 7PM. Downers Grove. dgparks.org
• Great Pumpkin Giveaway – 10/8. 10-2PM. Pumpkins, live animals, kids’ activities, flu shots and blood drive. The Compass Church, Three Rivers Campus, Plainfield. Thecompass.net
• Not So Scary Golf – 10/10. 11AM-6PM. Family friendly activities, new fire pit, music, mini golf and giveaways! Coyote Crossing Mini Golf. Carol Stream. csparks.org
• Night of 1000 Jack-o-Lanterns – 10/12-16 & 10/19-23. Over 1000 real pumpkins light up the night at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. chicagobotanic.org/Halloween.
• Chicago Ghost Tours – Ongoing through 10/31. Tour the historic haunts of Chicago. Both Bus and Foot Tours available. Times vary. Tickets. chicagohauntings.com
• Haunted Trail – 10/14. 6-7PM – Family Hour. 7-9:30PM Active Scaring. Hold on tight while you are guided through the 1/3 mile loop turned haunted ground! Ray Franzen Bird Sanctuary. Purchase tickets at trail, cash only. Itascaparkdistrict.com
• Things that go Bump in the Night – 10/14. Fun and not frightening. Watch skits as you walk along the trail with costumed characters representing the critters of the forest. Includes campfire, snacks and songs. 6-8:15PM. Emily Oaks Nature Center, Skokie. skokieparks.org
• All Hallows Eve – 10/14-15.6:30-10PM. 13-acres of haunting creatures and screaming delights at Naper Settlement! Not recommended for children under 8. napersettlement.org
• A Nightmare at West Main – 10/14 and 10/21. 7-9PM. Haunted hike through the spooky trails. Ages 10+. Tickets. Batavia. bataviaparks.org
• Sugar Skull City – 10/15. – 11/6. Celebrate the Day of the Dead . Downtown Aurora. auroradowntown.org
• Trick-or-Treat Trail – 10/15. 12-1:30PM Ages 0-10 yrs. Children and parents enjoy walking the trail at the Ray Franzen Bird Sanctuary, receiving crafts and treats along the way. FREE! Itascaparkdistrict.com
• Haunted Trail and Bonfire – 10/15. Bonfire, food, cider, games, wagon rides and a haunted trail. lindenhurstparks.org.
• Graveside Stories Cemetery Walk– 10/15 – 16. 2-5PM . St. Peter & St. Mary Cemeteries, 310 Alexander St., Elmhurst. Reservations Required: elmhursthistory.org/320/Programs
• Haunted Forest Walk – 10/21-22. Wind your way through a haunted forest trail full of scary scenes, wicked creatures and evil spirits. Afternoon matinee suitable for children under 9. Fri: 6:30-9:30PM, Sat: 1-3PM and 6:30-9:30PM. Hawthorne Woods. Woodridge. woodridgeparks.org
• Haunted Hayrides – 10/21-22. Spooky, fun-filled hayrides on the trail at Eaton Preserve. Plainfield. Plfdparks.org
• Trick-or-Treat Tango – 10/21. 7-8:30PM. Dancing, crafts, games, candy and prizes! $10 Registration required. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
• Howlin’ at the Moon – 10/21-22. 21+ event. Come dressed in costume and enjoy performances, live music, local cuisine and beverages. Naper Settlement, Naperville. Napersettlement.org/event
• Haunted Forest – 10/22. – Little Monsters, 3-6:30PM; Sheer Terror, 6:30-9:30PM. Sandra Smith Wood, Westmont. westmontparks.org
• Spooky Zoo – 10/22. Trick-or-Treating on zoo grounds. 10AM-While supplies last or 1PM. Lincoln Park Zoo. Lpzoo.org
• Halloween Hayday – 10/22. 10AM-1PM. Stephen Persinger Rec. Center. Halloween egg hunt, costume contest, bounce house, hayrides, science activities. Registration recommended. Geneva. genevaparks.org
• Howl O’Ween Dog Parade – 10/22. Bring your dogs and dress-to-impress at Peck Farm Park’s FREE Howl O’ Ween Dog Parade! Geneva. genevaparks.org
• LEGO® Brick-or-Treat Monster Party – 10/23 – 10/31. It’s non-stop fun, with spooky  decorations, amazing LEGO® activities, and a screening of the EXCLUSIVE NEW LEGO® 4D Halloween movie. Schaumburg. legolanddiscoverycenter.com
• Batfest – 10/29. Halloween themed family event with trick-or-treating, pumpkin bowl, contests, BatArt, stories and games. Free. Batavia. Downtownbatavia.com
• Monster Mash – 10/29. 11AM-2PM. Halloween themed walk-through Deer Grove Leisure Center. Ending with carnival games, bounce house, live critters and more! Bensenville. bvilleparks.org
• Kooky Spooky Candy Trail – 10/29. 3-5PM. Trick-or-treating along the candy trail at Oakton Park, while enjoying the roaming magician. Advanced ticket purchase. Skokie. skokieparks.org
• Haunted Halloween Flea Market – 10/29. Live music and ghoulish encounters and thousands of treasures for sale. 3PM– Midnight. DuPage County Fairgrounds. Wheaton. zurkopromotions.com
• Trick or Treat Trail – 10/29. Trick or Treat socially safe at Red Hawk Park. All participants must register for a designated time slot. Register. Red Hawk Park, Carol Stream. csparks.org
• Boo Bash! – 10/31. Children and families come in costume. We will read stories, make crafts and share a special treat.  10-11 AM. Cantigny, Wheaton. cantigny.org.
• Spooktacular Fun Night – 10/31. Geared for kids ages 2-10. Trick-or-Treat through the community center and stay for fun and games. 5-7PM. Westmont. Westmontparks.org